BENTONVILLE, Ark. - The Drury Softball Panthers suffered a 4-0 loss to Pittsburg State and a 7-5 loss in the nightcap to Nebraska-Kearney to open play at the Arkansas Monticello Classic here on Friday.

Drury is now 1-3 on the season, Pittsburg State improved to 6-1 and Nebraska-Kearney is now 4-2.

In the opener, the game remained scoreless until the sixth inning when Pittsburg State scored on an RBI groundout to take a 1-0 lead.  The Pitt. State offensive added three runs on four hits in the sixth inning and held DU scoreless in the seventh to claim the 4-0 win.

Pittsburg State sophomore Emmie Robertson (4-0) struck out seven and held the Panthers at bay allowing just one Drury hit which came in the first inning on a Karlie Peck single.  Pittsburg State had six hits with two from Bolton. 

Shelby Weissenbach (0-2) received the loss in 5.2 innings of action before Jessica Kjeldgaard came in during the last inning.

In the nightcap Nebraska Kearney scored on a second inning error but Grace Hargadon tied it up for the Panthers with an RBI single in the top of the third to score Karlie Peck.  Kate Ruwe put the Lopers back on top in the bottom half of the third with an RBI single making it 2-1 Kearney.

The Lopers added four runs highlighted by a three run homer from Ruwe to push the Kearney lead to 6-1 after four innings.  Kaelie Smith hit a two run homer to bring home Peck in the Panther fifth and cut the lead in half to 6-3.  UNK added their final run in the sixth inning on an RBI single.  A two run homer in the top of the seventh by Kari Hillenburg pulled the Panthers to within two runs in the 7-5 final.

Kearney had 10 hits with Drury finishing with nine lead by Hillenburg and Smith who each had three hits and two RBIs.

Kjeldgaard (0-1) received the loss with Meg Housholder (2-1) getting the win for Kearney.

Drury will continue action at the Arkansas-Monticello Classic vs. Ouachita Baptist at 10 a.m. and Northwestern Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. on Saturday..